Trump Executive Order Prevents Racial Bias Training at Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems

Under an executive order signed this week by President Donald Trump, defense contractors including Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, both in Cedar Rapids, cannot provide diversity training based on conscious or unconscious bias, white privilege and other topics commonly taught in such programs.

The president’s order prohibits the federal government and its contractors from promoting “race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating” or teaching any “divisive concepts.”

That includes training that suggests a race or gender may have any privilege, status, moral or ethical values or character traits.

{snip}

Collins Aerospace asked employees to “ensure any planned trainings in these areas are postponed until further notice,” according to an email obtained by The Gazette. {snip}

This type of diversity training has been commonplace at many corporations. In 2018, Starbucks closed more than 8,000 stores across the country for a day to conduct racial bias training for its employees.

{snip}

A Collins Aerospace spokeswoman was not available to comment on the company’s past diversity training efforts. But the company has a history of earning recognition for its diversity efforts.

{snip}

The Trump administration already banned training on white privilege and critical race theory in federal agencies earlier this month.

{snip}